Being an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in the State of Oklahoma can be very rewarding. In a location where cost of living is low, EMT’s in the Oklahoma are paid quite well in relation to other work throughout the state and it is a good opportunity to get out from behind a desk and make positive impact on peoples’ lives.
EMT training in Oklahoma is actually considered to be one of the least complex courses in the United States. This is great news if you decide to go through with EMT training in Oklahoma. However, unlike several states there are three levels in the EMT field. As you climb up the ladder of levels, your salary will increase noticeably, but that also comes with more responsibility, and obviously more hours of training and on the job experience required.
The first level is known as EMT Basic. This is your starting rank as an EMT with a minimal amount of training in comparison to some other states. You are only required to have a total of 154 hours. This is a combination of both lab works where you are taught certain skills, and also field experience. Generally during those 154 hours you will spend your time in the field watching how other more highly trained EMT’s do their work and also will perform basic tasks. It is a very practical method to training where the Oklahoma Department of Health that oversees the program and training want to make sure their applicants are not just book taught, but can handle the work in the real-working field where you will often be placed in rough situations.
The second level is EMT Intermediate according the Oklahoma Department of Health. Again, this is where application is even more the focus. You have gone through various training and were taught how to perform the basic functions. How do you handle those high-pressure situations where quick and accurate decisions have to be made? The EMT Intermediate requires 190 hours of training and field experience.
The last and final phase of EMT training in Oklahoma is to become a certified EMT paramedic. You will be required to take various training sessions but also spend lots of time in the field watching and performing tasks much like a paramedic would. You will have someone watching you to ensure you are performing tasks accurately and to help you with situations you are unsure of. This is the largest bulk of your training and you are required to do 1050 hours of lab and field work in order to qualify for a EMT paramedic position.
You should know that EMT’s have a positive outlook in the State of Oklahoma moving forward. The average salary as an EMT in Oklahoma is $33,000. EMT positions are expected to continue to rise moving forward as the average age in Oklahoma continues to rise (baby-boomers) and the demand for EMT’s will increase.